Riding-saddle



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

J. D. NORTI-IRUP. RIDING SADDLE.

Patented Dec. 28, 1890} (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. J. D. NORTHRUP.

RIDING SADDLE.

Patented Deb. 23, 1890.

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UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

JULIUS DON NORTHRUP, OF GIDDINGSTEXA S.

RIDING-SADDLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 443,241, dated December 23, 1890.

Application filed June 28, 1890. Serial No. 357,029. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be itknown that I, JULIUs Don NORTHRUP, a citizen of the United States, residing at Giddings, in the county of Lee and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Riding-Saddles; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This .invention relates to riding-saddles; and it has for its object to provide an'iniproved saddle of this class of more durable and comfortable construction than those now generally used, and one which is designed to remedy certain other defects hereinafter mentioned.

With these objects in view my invention consists in the peculiar construction and arran gement of the various parts, such as shown in the drawings, and more fully set forth hereinafter.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View illustrating my improved saddle in course of construction. Fig. 2 is a similar view illustrating the same at a more advanced stage. Fig. 3 is a similar view of the completed saddle. Fig. 4 is a bottom or inverted plan view. Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line mm, Fig. 2.

Corresponding parts in the drawings are denoted by the same letters of reference.

Referring to the drawings, A designates the tree, which may be in the main of the usual or any preferred pattern, and provided with a central longitudinal opening a, forming side bars a a.

'B B designate the stii-rupstraps, which are passed around their adjacent side bars,

in lieu of across the latter, as is generally the case. Covering the opening a between the side bars is a piece of leather 0, of approximately H shape and disposed transversely across the tree, said piece extending from near the point of the cantle to the fork of the tree. The recesses c 0 formed in the leather C are located coincident to the stirrup-straps and of a corresponding breadth, whereby the piece 0 is adapted to fit down upon the tree at either side of the straps, and the edges of the piece 0 adjacent to the straps being of the same thickness as the latter a smooth uncomfortable seat.

broken surface is thus secured. The front and rear edges of the leather 0 are also trimmed or beveled, so as to obviate the for mation of shoulders at these points, and thus make the smooth unbroken surface continuous. After the leather piece 0 has been secured to the tree a strainer D may then be secured over the same. If desired, however, and it is generally found preferable, a thin piece of leather S may be employed to cover the piece B; but this is not essential. The strainer D is formed of sheet metal or other non-yielding material and of approximately T shape, thus comprising a rearwardly-projecting longitudinal wing cl and oppositelyprojecting transverse wings d d at the front end of the strainer. The strainer extends from the cantle to the fork, the wing (1 cover ing the rear portion of the opening a in the tree and the wings d covering the stirrupstraps and projecting at the sides thereof over the leather piece 0. It will thus be apparent that by the employment of this non-yielding strainer any depression at the opening a is obviated, which so often occurs with other forms of saddles, resulting in rubbing of the horses back, besides producing an un- If padding or filling is desired on this strainer, it may be secured; but ordinarily this will not be necessary, and a covering E is placed over the strainer and tacked down, said covering extending sufficiently in all directions, as shown, to cover all the aforementioned parts.

The practicability and advantages of my invention will be readily understood by those skilled in the art to which it appertains. From the above it will be seen that a cheap, simple, comfortable, and durable saddle is formed, one in which all longitudinal de pression is effectually prevented and in which the surface of the seat is unbroken by the stirrup-straps. It will further be obvious that while the leather piece 0 is herein shown with all its parts integral, it is not essential, as the same may be formed in two sections, a forward and rear strip, as shown in dotted lines, Fig.1.

I claim as my invention- 1. In ariding-saddle, the combination, with a tree, of the stirrup-straps passed around the bars thereof, a filling arranged at each side of the straps and ol. :1 corresponding thickness to the latter at the opposing edges, and a non-yielding strainer covering the opening in the tree and the upper portions of the straps, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In ariding-sathlle, the combination, with a tree, of the stirrup-straps passed separately around the bars of the same, the filling-piece of approximately H shape, having its recesses corresponding to and adapted to receive the coincident portions of the stirrup-straps, the edges of said filling-piece ad jaeent to thelatter being of the same thickness, and the nonyielding strainer extending over the fillingpiece and the stirrup-straps, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a riding-saddle, the combination, with 

